Outsider Sports NHL Power Rankings Nov. 6
Welcome to the Outsider Sports NHL power rankings, where our hockey staff provides their top-10 rankings each week. Each first place vote receives 10 points, while 10th place votes receive one point. Voting this week is Ben Mandell, Tom Leone, Michael Diakunczak, Arianna Fariss and Parker Dorsey.
Bruins rookie Matthew Poitras continues to streak after making roster. Frank Franklin II | AP
1. Vegas Golden Knights (50 points)
The Golden Knights are once again the top team in our rankings thanks to their continued dominance. They did fall to the Ducks on Sunday, becoming the final team to fall in regulation. Still, Vegas sports an impressive 11-1-1 record. They are clearly the league’s best team.
2. Boston Bruins (45 points)
Boston, like Vegas, suffered its first regulation loss this week, losing to Detroit, but this team is looking more and more like what we saw last year. The goaltending is just as good and young pieces like Matthew Poitras are thriving.The Bruins may have the same result as last year come playoff time, but they are certainly one of the best looking teams in the league right now.
3. New York Rangers (39 points)
The Rangers are atop the Metropolitan division and thriving early on this season. Igor Shesterkin continues to prove he is one of the best goalies in the world and Artemi Panarin has been on fire to start the campaign with 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists). Former top pick Alexis Lafreniere also has started the season on a strong note, scoring four goals. Between goaltending and star power, the Rangers might be the most dangerous team in the NHL.
4. Dallas Stars (35 points)
Dallas still hasn’t played a ton of games, but they went 2-1-0 last week with wins over Edmonton and the lowly Calgary Flames. It has been the Roope Hintz show on the offensive end, leading the team in goals and assists. But the real reason the Stars are cup contenders is Jake Oettinger in goal, with a goals against average below two and a save percentage hovering around 94 percent.
5. Colorado Avalanche (26 points)
The Avalanche’s fall continued this week, dropping to fifth in our rankings. It has been a rough stretch for Colorado, dropping three out of its last four. The lone win came at home against the Blues, and the most recent loss was a 7-0 beatdown from Vegas. The Avalanche need to figure out the goaltending situation to be a true contender.
6. Vancouver Canucks (24 points)
Vancouver has been really really impressive to start the year. Quinn Hughes is looking like a candidate for the Norris Trophy, Brock Boser has eight goals and Elias Pettersson has 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists). Rick Tocchet has this team clicking and poised to make a run in a conference that is mostly top heavy.
7. Los Angeles Kings (20 points)
The Kings had a perfect week on the road, starting with the dismantling of Toronto. They also took care of Ottawa and Philadelphia later in the week. Cam Talbot has been better than what Phoenix Copley gave them last season, and it may be enough with the depth Los Angeles has up the middle.
8. Detroit Red Wings (14 points)
Detroit looked like they might be slowing down a bit, losing three straight games two weeks ago, but they knocked off the Islanders in overtime to close out October and then closed out the week with a win over the East leading Bruins. Alex Debrincat’s nine goals pace the Red Wings and the captain Dylan Larkin’s 17 points have been very encouraging. Like i said last week, the goaltending is very much not there and look for Detroti to make a splash if they see themselves as contenders this year.
9. Carolina Hurricanes (8 points)
It has been a bumpy start for the Hurricanes, the team many felt was the favorite to claim the East this year. But they are getting healthier, including Andrei Svechnikov’s return. It has been a start, but Carolina has a lot of work to do to make sure they keep up in a very competitive division.
10. New Jersey Devils (8 points)
The Devils have not been as good as expected to start the season, but they still have been good. Injuries to captain, Nico Hischier and more recently Jack Hughes definitely throw a wrinkle into things in New Jersey, but the bigger reason for concern has been goaltending. It’s nothing new, and while Vitek Vanecek has been better as of late, the Devils may continue squandering prime years with this core if they can’t solve the situation between the pipes.
Others receiving votes: Toronto Maple Leafs (4 points), Tampa Bay Lightning (1 point).
How we ranked them.
Ben M: Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes.
Tom L: Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning.
Mikey D: Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils.
Arianna F: Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks.
Parker D: Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Los Angeles King, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs.
Rankings are based on games through Nov. 5.
